U.S. patent application number 16/563843 was filed with the patent office on 2020-03-12 for fan blade and blade hub assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Vornado Air LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Vornado Air LLC. Invention is credited to Glen W. Ediger, Gregory Pease.
Application Number | 20200080568 16/563843 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 69719413 |
Filed Date | 2020-03-12 |
![](/patent/app/20200080568/US20200080568A1-20200312-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20200080568/US20200080568A1-20200312-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20200080568/US20200080568A1-20200312-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20200080568/US20200080568A1-20200312-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20200080568/US20200080568A1-20200312-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20200080568/US20200080568A1-20200312-D00005.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20200080568 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ediger; Glen W. ; et
al. |
March 12, 2020 |
FAN BLADE AND BLADE HUB ASSEMBLY
Abstract
The present invention provides an improved blade and blade hub
assembly. According to a first preferred embodiment, the present
invention provides an apparatus for attaching light-weight foam
blades onto an injection molded hub to be used in an unguarded fan
assembly. According to a further preferred embodiment, the present
invention preferably further provides a foam blade design in which
the more centrally located portion of the blade is inserted into
slots that are molded into an injection molded hub. According to a
further preferred embodiment, the slots of the present invention
preferably keep the blade in a desired camber and support the blade
in the proper angle and orientation.
Inventors: |
Ediger; Glen W.; (North
Newton, KS) ; Pease; Gregory; (Andover, KS) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Vornado Air LLC |
Andover |
KS |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Vornado Air LLC
Andover
KS
|
Family ID: |
69719413 |
Appl. No.: |
16/563843 |
Filed: |
September 7, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62728402 |
Sep 7, 2018 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 29/646 20130101;
F04D 29/388 20130101; F04D 29/38 20130101; F05D 2230/64 20130101;
F05D 2300/43 20130101; F04D 29/329 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F04D 29/38 20060101
F04D029/38; F04D 29/32 20060101 F04D029/32 |
Claims
1. A fan assembly for creating and directing a flow of air, wherein
the fan assembly comprises: a first fan blade, a second fan blade
and a third fan blade; wherein each of the first, second and third
fan blades comprise: an insertion edge; wherein the insertion edge
comprises a flat insertion surface; wherein the flat insertion
surface comprises a plurality of securing holes; and a fan blade
body; a fan hub assembly, wherein the fan hub assembly comprises: a
front nose cone; a rear supporting shell, wherein the rear
supporting shell comprises a curved inner housing surface; wherein
the curved inner housing surface comprises: a first fan blade
insertion aperture, a second fan blade insertion aperture and a
third fan blade insertion aperture; and a plurality of securing
pins, wherein each securing pin comprises: an insertion pin; and a
plurality of supporting ribs; wherein the supporting ribs extend
from the insertion pin to the curved inner housing surface; wherein
at least a first group of three securing pins are formed on the
curved inner housing surface adjacent to the first fan blade
insertion aperture; wherein at least a second group of three
securing pins are formed on the curved inner housing surface
adjacent to the second fan blade insertion aperture; wherein at
least a third group of three securing pins are formed on the curved
inner housing surface adjacent to the third fan blade insertion
aperture; wherein the first blade is inserted through the first
blade aperture and the first group of three securing pins are
inserted through the first blade securing holes; wherein the
plurality of supporting ribs of the first group of three securing
pins align the first blade into a first thrust orientation; wherein
the second blade is inserted through the second blade aperture and
the second group of three securing pins are inserted through the
second blade securing holes; wherein the plurality of supporting
ribs of the second group of three securing pins align the second
blade into a second thrust orientation; and wherein the third blade
is inserted through the third blade aperture and the third group of
three securing pins are inserted through the third blade securing
holes; wherein the plurality of supporting ribs of the third group
of three securing pins align the third blade into a third thrust
orientation; wherein the first, second and third thrust
orientations are angled to form and direct a single, uniform column
of air.
2. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third
fan blades are tilted towards the nose cone.
3. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third
fan blades are tilted away from the nose cone.
4. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the fan blades are formed
of injection molded materials.
5. The fan assembly of claim 4, wherein the fan blades are formed
of materials selected from the group of materials comprising:
Polypropylene (PP), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low Density
Polyethylene (LDPE), ABS Plastics, Acrylic, Polyurethane (PU),
Nylon (PA), and Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE).
6. The fan assembly of claim 4, wherein the fan blades are formed
of materials selected from the group of materials comprising:
Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomer Engineering Thermoplastic,
Polycarbonate (PC), Polystyrene (PS), High Impact Polystyrene
(HIPS), Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT), Polyetherimide (PEI), and
Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS).
7. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the fan blades are formed
of a light-weight foam material.
8. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein the fan blades are formed
closed cell material.
9. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein the fan blades are formed
of open cell material.
10. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein the fan blades are formed
of materials selected from the group of materials comprising:
Crosslinked Polyethylene, ethylyene-vynyl acetate (EVA), Volara,
FloTex, and Neoprene
11. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein each securing pin is heat
staked to secure each blade to the hub assembly.
Description
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/728,402, filed Sep. 7, 2019, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Field of the Present Invention
[0002] The present invention is related in general to an improved
fan design, and in particular, to an improved blade and blade hub
assembly.
Background of the Invention
[0003] Modern fans generally require rigid fan blades which are
protected by rigid fan grills. Further, the spacing of all rigid
grill elements on each fan grill must carefully match relevant UL
requirements. These requirements greatly limit the design and
engineering of each fan. This greatly reduces consumer choice and
limits other aspects of fan engineering such as fan weight, size
and overall appearance.
[0004] To overcome the limitations of the prior art, what is needed
is a new design which is capable of meeting UL requirements while
allowing the fan to operate without a grill. The present invention
overcomes the prior art shortcomings by accomplishing this critical
objective.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] To minimize the limitations found in the prior art, and to
minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon the reading
of the specifications, the preferred embodiment of the present
invention provides an improved blade and blade hub assembly.
[0006] According to a first preferred embodiment, the present
invention provides an apparatus for attaching light-weight foam
blades onto an injection molded hub to be used in an unguarded fan
assembly.
[0007] According to a further preferred embodiment, the present
invention preferably further provides a foam blade design in which
the more centrally located portion of the blade is inserted into
slots that are molded into an injection molded hub.
[0008] According to a further preferred embodiment, the slots of
the present invention preferably keep the blade in a desired camber
and support the blade in the proper angle and orientation.
[0009] According to a further preferred embodiment, each blade of
the present invention may preferably be further supported in a
front-to-back orientation by ribs that project in towards the hub
center.
[0010] According to a further preferred embodiment, the ribs of the
present invention preferably further include small pins to align
the blade into a proper thrust orientation. Additionally, the pins
may preferably be heat staked (thermoplastic staked) to permanently
secure the blade to the hub and to provide further support to the
blade.
[0011] These and other advantages and features of the present
invention are described with specificity to make the present
invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary fan assembly in accordance with a
first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a fan hub
assembly in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary fan blade in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional plan view of the exemplary
fan assembly as shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional perspective view of the
exemplary fan assembly shown in FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Reference is now made in detail to the exemplary embodiments
of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference
numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same
or like parts. The description, embodiments and figures are not to
be taken as limiting the scope of the claims. It should also be
understood that throughout this disclosure, unless logically
required to be otherwise, where a process or method is shown or
described, the steps of the method may be performed in any order,
repetitively, iteratively or simultaneously. As used throughout
this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense
(i.e., meaning "having the potential to`), rather than the
mandatory sense (i.e. meaning "must").
[0018] Additionally, any examples or illustrations given herein are
not to be regarded in any way as restrictions on, limits to, or
express definitions of, any term or terms with which they are
utilized. Instead, these examples or illustrations are to be
regarded as illustrative only. Those of ordinary skill in the art
will appreciate that any term or terms with which these examples or
illustrations are utilized will encompass other embodiments which
may or may not be given therewith or elsewhere in the specification
and all such embodiments are intended to be included within the
scope of that term or terms.
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary fan assembly 10 in
accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present
invention. As should be understood, the fan assembly 10 disclosed
in FIG. 1 is an exemplary fan assembly onto which the features of
the present invention may be integrated. For example, the present
invention is discussed with respect to a group of four fan blades
12, 14, 16, 18 which are attached to a center fan hub assembly 20.
The fan hub assembly 20 as discussed herein may preferably be
formed of a rear supporting shell 23 (shown in FIG. 4) and a front
nose cone 21. It should be understood that the present invention
may include any number fan blades (i.e. 2-20) which may be in any
orientation. For instance, the fan blades may be tilted forward or
backwards to adjust air flow patterns. Accordingly, FIG. 1 is
intended to be purely illustrative and any of a variety of fan
blade and fan hub orientations may be used with the present
invention without limitation.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the
exemplary fan hub assembly 20 in accordance with a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the exemplary fan
hub assembly 20 includes fan blade insertion apertures 22, 24, 26
and 28 which are preferably of sufficient width and length to allow
the fan blades of the present invention to be inserted therethrough
as discussed further below.
[0021] According to preferred embodiments, the fan blade insertion
apertures 22, 24, 26, 28 are preferably further sized to keep the
fan blades 12, 14, 16, 18 in a desired contoured, camber. Further,
the fan blade insertion apertures 22, 24, 26, 28 preferably further
support holding the fan blades 12, 14, 16, 18 in the proper angles
and in the proper front-to-back orientations.
[0022] As further shown in FIG. 2, the fan blades 12, 14, 16, 18
(shown in FIG. 1) are preferably further secured and supported in a
desired front-to-back orientation by a number of ribs 31, 33, 35
(shown in FIG. 2) which preferably extend through the surface of
the fan hub assembly 20. Preferably, a securing points/pins 30, 32,
34 further extend up from each supporting rib 31, 33, 35 to align
each respective fan blade 12, 14, 16, 18 (shown in FIG. 1) into a
proper thrust orientation as well as to generally secure each fan
blade in place. As shown in FIG. 3, three pins 30, 32, 34 may
preferably be used. Alternatively, any number of pins (i.e. 1-10)
may be used to secure each respective fan blade 12, 14, 16, 18 as
discussed above.
[0023] Preferably, the fan hub assembly 20 of the present invention
is preferably formed of molded materials and may be formed using an
injection molding process. Accordingly, the fan blades 12, 14, 16,
18 and the fan hub assembly 20 may be formed of materials such as:
Polypropylene (PP), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low Density
Polyethylene (LDPE), ABS Plastics, Acrylic, Polyurethane (PU),
Nylon (PA), Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE), Thermoplastic
Polyurethane Elastomer Engineering Thermoplastic, Polycarbonate
(PC), Polystyrene (PS), High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS),
Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT), Polyetherimide (PEI),
Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) and the like.
[0024] With reference now to FIG. 3, an exemplary fan blade 12 in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is
shown including a main blade surface 36 and an insertion edge 37.
According to a preferred embodiment, the insertion edge 37 is
preferably sized to allow insertion within a fan blade insertion
aperture 22, 24, 26, 28. As further shown, the insertion edge 37
preferably further includes insertion holes 38, 40, 42 which are
preferably sized to snap onto respective securing pins 30, 32, 34
to hold the fan blade 12 in place.
[0025] According to further preferred embodiments of the present
invention, the exemplary fan blade 12 is preferably formed of a
light-weight foam material. Such foam material may include open or
closed cell materials and may include for example: Crosslinked
Polyethylene, ethylyene-vynyl acetate (EVA), Volara, FloTex,
Neoprene and the like. According to a further preferred embodiment,
the fan blade 12 is preferable molded into a desired blade profile,
shape, and contour using injection molding or the like. The
insertion edge 37 of each fan blade 12 may then preferably be
inserted into a fan blade insertion aperture 22, 24, 26, 28 and
each insertion hole 38, 40, 42 may be snapped onto a respective
securing pin 30, 32, 34.
[0026] Preferably, since each respective fan blade 12, 14, 16, 18
has flexibility, they preferably may be inserted into a respective
fan blade insertion aperture 22, 24, 26, 28 and bent to allow the
holes in each fan blade 12, 14, 16, 18 to fit onto securing pins
molded into the hub assembly 20. This preferably allows for secure
and proper alignment. According to a further preferred embodiment,
each securing pin 30, 32, 34 may preferably be heat staked to
permanently secure the blade 12 to the hub assembly 20 and to
further support the blade 12 in a front-to-back orientation.
[0027] With reference now to FIG. 4, a cross-sectional plan view of
the exemplary fan assembly 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is provided.
Specifically, the hub assembly 20 is shown with the front nose cone
21 (shown in FIG. 1) removed and the rear supporting shell 23 open.
As shown, the rear supporting shell 23 includes a curved inner
housing surface 25 which includes fan blade insertion apertures 22,
24, 26, 28 (shown in FIG. 3). As shown, the insertion edge 37 of
the example fan blade 12 is inserted through a fan blade insertion
aperture 24 of the hub assembly 20. As further shown, the insertion
edge 37 is snapped onto securing pins 30, 32, 34 to secure the fan
blade 12 in place. FIG. 5 provides a further cross-sectional
perspective view of the exemplary fan assembly 10 with the
insertion edge 37 of the example fan blade 12 snapped onto the
securing pins 30, 32, 34.
[0028] According to further preferred embodiments, the present
invention may preferably be used to attach light-weight foam blades
12, 14, 16, 18 onto the fan hub assembly 20 to allow for an
unguarded fan assembly in which a fan grill is unneeded. Further,
each fan blade may preferably be attached and secured at an angle
and orientation to maximize air flow.
[0029] The scope of the present invention should be determined not
by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and
their legal equivalents.
* * * * *